Machine for separating fibers from the pulp and extraneous matter of plants and trees.



No. 868,525- PATENTBD OCT. 15, 1907.

E. BEHRENDT.

MACHINE FOR SEPARATING FIBERS FROM THE PULP AND EXTRANEOUS MATTER OF PLANTS AND TREES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13,1906. v

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR v I Zzlfelzefiekrezzdt No. 868,525 PATENTED OCT. 15, 1907.

B. BEHRENDT.

MACHINE F OR SEPARATING FIBERS FROM THE PULP AND EXTRANEOUS MATTER OF PLANTS AND TREES.

' APPLICATION FILED HOV. 13,1906.

'6 sums-sum 2.

ATTORNEYS No. 868,525. PATENTED 0GT.15,1907.

J E. BEHRENDT. MACHINE FOR SEPARATING FIBERS FROM THE PULP AND EXTRANEOUS MATTER OF PLANTS AND TREES.

ARPLIUATIOR FILED NOV. 13, 1906. 4

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A TTOHNEYS WITNESSES:

No. 868,525. PATENTED 001". 15, 1907. E. BEHRENDT. I

MACHINE P OR SEPARATING' FIBERS FROM THE PULP AND EX-TRANEOUS MATTER OF PLANTS AND TREES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13,1906.

5 SHEETS-SHEET. 4.

A W/TNESSES:

IN VE N 70/? A TTORNE Y8 No. 868,525. PATENTED OCT. 15, 1907. E. BEHRENDT.

MACHINE FOR SEPARATING FIBERS FROM THE PULP AND EXTRANEOUS MATTER OF PLANTS AND TREES.

m m e m M k m N 1 M Nfi U H K E A w W z N APPLICATION IILEI) NOV. 13,1905.

. UNITED srA'rns' EUGENE BEHRENDT, OF MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, ASSIG NOR TO BEHRENDT & COL, OF-

NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PATENT OFFICE.

MACHINE FOR S'EPARATING FIBERS FROM THE PULP AND EXTRANEOUS MATTER OF PLANTS AND TREES.

Specification of Letters-Patent.

Patented'Oct. 15, 1907.

Application filed November 13,1906. SerialNo. 287,066.

To all whom it mag/ concern;

lie it known that I, EUGENE BEHRENDT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Manila, Philippine the bark or leaf sheaths of the tropical abaca (Muse textilis) and other plants and trees, especially such as the abaca which yieldsmanila hemp, to be manufactured into rope or cordage, the present machine being an improvement on the machine shown and described in the applications for Letters Patent of the United States for hemp stripping and cleaning machines, Serial Nos. 251,246 and 270,422, filed by me March 21, 1905, and July 19, 1905, respectively.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved machine for separating the fibers from the extraneous matter or pulp and other extraneous matter inavery simple, effective and economic manner and without danger of undue injury to the fibers, the

latter being properly straightened, cleaned, polished and rendered free from gum and like substances.

The invention .consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same which will be more fully. described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims".-

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same; Fig. 3' is "a side elevation of the means for raising'.the movable niembers'of the stripping devices,

combing device, cleaning and polishing device and drying device for the passage of the draw-head employed fordrawing the material between the membersofthe said devices; Fig. 4. is a sectionalplan view.of the improvement, on the line 44 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a cross section of the same, on the line 55 of Fig. 2;-Fig. 6*is a side elevation of the mechanismtion of the improvement, on-the. line 1010 of Fig. 2,

showing more particularly the combing device and part of the first stripping device; Fig. 11 is a like view of the same, on the line 1111 of Fig. 2;. showing more particularly the final cleaning and polishing device; Fig. 11 is an enlarged cross section of the same; Fig. 12 is a sectional side elevation of the stripping device as arranged for treating material having very fine fibers; Fig. 13 is a sectional side elevation of the device for reducing one end of the material for convenient attachment to the draw-head; and Fig. 14 is anenlarged sectional perspective of the material, showing the reduced clamping portion.

The machine presently described in detail is more especially designed for treating the leaf sheaths or band-like material A stripped off the abaca and like plants, the said leaf sheath material A consisting of lengthwise extending fibers A (see Fig. 14) embedded in a sappy pulp A of a spongy character, and covered at one side by a hard, tenacious and exceedingly smooth covering A. With my machine the fibers are separated not only from the pulp A but also from the covering A and at the same time the fibers are separated from each other,'cleaned, polished, dried and kept smooth and separate and free from entanglement.

The reduced end A of the material A is secured in a draw-head B adapted to be moved lengthwiseof the machine in the direction of the arrow (1 for drawing the material A successively through a stripping device C, a combing device D, a second stripping device E, a cleaning and polishing device F, and a scraping and drying device G, to finally wind up the separate, cleaned, polished and dried fibers on the draw-head B, together with an apron H of cloth or other material,

The several devices mentioned are mounted on a suitably constructed frame I, in which is journaled a transversely-extending driving shaft J provided with a pulley .I connected with other machinery for imparting a rotary motion to the driving shaft .I. On the latter is secured a sprocket wheel J connected by a sprocket chain J with a sprocket wheel .1 secured on a transverse shaft K journaled in suitable hearings on the main frame I at the rear end thereof. Now, when the main shaft .I is rotated, a rotary motion is transmitted by the sprocket wheels J J and the sprocket chain J, to the shaft K. i Y

On the shaft K are secured sprocket wheels K lo- 'cated near the sides of the main frame I and'forming transverse shaft K journaled in suitable bearing's'on' the front end of the main frame I.

On the sprocket chains K are secured sets of arms K each set being adapted to engage the polygonal portions B of trunnions B projecting from the ends of a metrical slot B, into which'is passed the reduced end A of the material A to be treated, the said reduced and A being formed by cutting off a portion of the pulp A with a knife, the said reduced end A being clamped in place in the roller 13 by a clamping bar B" hinged at 15 to one end of the roller B, Thus when the clamping bar B is in an open position, the reduced end A of the'material Acan be conveniently pa'swd into the slot B and then the clamping bar W is swung into a closed position, so as to securely clamp the end A in position in the roller B of the draw-head .13. The bar B is held in place by friction by being pressed into the slot 13 of the roller against one side of the material.

When the end A is clamped in position as described,

and the draw-head 15 is placed on the front end of the machine with the trnnnions B resting in bearings l of the main frame I, and the machine is started, then a set of arms engage the polygonal portions B of the trunnions B", so that the conveyer chain carries the draw-head B bodily along in the direction of the arrow a, to draw the material A through the several devices (I, D, E, F and G. The first stripping device C consists attached to a cross bar L secured to the sides of the main frame I, and the knife C being secured to a cross head L mounted to slide up and down in suitable guidcways l forming part of the main frame I. The upperend of the cross hcad L is connected by a link L with a lever L iulcrumed on the main frame I and carrying a weight L adjustably secured on the lever L by a set screw L By the arrangement described the cross head L carrying the knife C is free to slide up and down in the guideways I, to allow the draw-head B to pass between the knives C and at the time the knife (3' and its cross head 'L are in a raised position.

The knives C and (J are adjustably secured on the cross bar L and the cross head L by the use of bolts C extending through elongated slots in the.knives, and screwing in the cross bar L and the cross head L;

'and proper adjustment of the knives C and C is bad then the knife C cuts into the pulp A of the material,

while the knife cuts into the coating A so as to p 7 remove the main portion of the'pul'p A and the coating A as the material A is drawn along'betwoen the knives C and The main result of the actioniof the stripping device 0 is the formation of a band of fibers still connected with each other by some of the pulp.

The combing device D, located immediately in the rear of the stripping device C, consists essentially of a series of transversely-extending combs D, D", D and D, secured to a back D fastened to the cross head L by bolts D' (see Fig. 10), so that the combing device D moves up and down with the cross head L. The combs I), D, I) and D are graduated; that is, the teeth in the first'comb D are spaced farther apart than those of the next comb, D"; and the teeth of the lattcrare spaced farther apart than the teethcf the following comb, D and the teeth of the comb D are finer than the teeth of the comb D, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 10. Now, when the material is drawn through the machine and the main portion of the pulp A and coating A is removed by the action of the knives C and C, then the band of fibers produced is gradually split into very narrow strips by the teeth of the graduated combs D, D", D and D", it being understood that the said teeth pass down through the band of fibers on the lowering of the cross head L, and hence when the material is drawn forward the band of fibers issplit into narrow strips, each containing a plurality of fibers.

The second stripping device E is similar to the first stripping device 0; that is, consists of a fixed knife E secured to .a cross bar N attached to the main frame l, and a knife E secured to a crosshead N mounted to slide vertically in bearings I forming part of the main frame I. The cross head N is connected, at its upper end, by a link N with a lever N fulcrurned on the essentially of two transversely-extending knives C v and C inclined in opposite directions and in the direction of the travel of the material A, the knife 0 being I main frame I, and provided with a weight N adjust- .ably secured on the lever N by a set screw N The knives E and E are .adjustably secured by bolts E and E to the cross bar N and the cross head N, in the same manner as above described relative to the knives C and so that further description of the same is not deemed necessary; it being, however, understood that the knives are likewise inclined rearwardly and serve to break up the narrow strips of fibers, with a view to separate the fibers from each other and to remove some of the surplus pulp and other matter from the separated fibers. I

The cleaning and polishing device F, located in the rear of the second stripping device E, consists of a ser ics of spaced and transverselymxtcnding plates F, W, F? v and F (see Figs. 2 and ii), operating in conjunction, at their lower ends, with screw rods or notched bars F F, F and F 8 of different pitch; that is, the first screw rod F has a larger pitch than the next following screw rod F; and the pitch of the screw rod 1 is less than that of the screw rod F; and the pitch of the screw rod F is less than that ofthe screw rod F The plates F, 1 ,1 and F are secured in a back F fastencd by bolts F tothe cross head N so as to move upand down with the latter. The several screw rods or notched bars F', F, F and F are secured in bearings F adapted to bevertically adjusted by set screws F screwing in the cross bar N, so as to bring the tops of the screw rods in proper relation to the lower edges of the plates F, F", F and F. When the fibers are drawn between the plates F, F, F and F and their corresponding screw rods or notched bars 1?, F, F and F it is evident that the fibers are pressed by the plates between the adjacent teeth and notches of the screw rods or bans, so

.as to cause a thorough cleaning and polishing of the sap, moisture and the likev from the fibers and thereby e to a cross head 0, mounted to slide vertically in guideways I arranged on the main frame I, and the upper end of the cross head 0 is connected by a link 0 with a leverO fulcrumed on the main frameI and carrying a weight 0 adjustably secured on the lever by a set screw 0*. The knife G is arranged similarly to the stripping knives E and C and the fibers, while drawn between the edge of the knife G and the top of the block G are pressed on sufficiently heavily by the provided with a valved outlet P for drawing off the cutting edge to scrape off any gummy matter or other moisture that may adhere to the fibers. It is understood that the pulp, covering, sap and gummy matter removed from the material during the successive actions of the stripping device 0, combing device D, stripping device E, cleaning and polishing device'F, and scraping and drying device G drops down into a suitable vessel P attached to the main frame I and sap and gummy matter from time to time.

In order to successively raise the cross heads L, N and 0 for the passage of the draw-head B, the said cross heads are provided, at their sides, with cams L, N and 0 respectively, adapted to be engaged by friction rollers B held on the trunnions B of the drawhead B, so that when the latter is drawn along by the arms K of the sprocket chains K then the said friction rollers B" come in contact with the cams L, N and O to raise the corresponding cross heads L, N and O, to allowthe drawhead B to pass under the several devices C, D, E, F and G, to bring the material between the members of the several devices, as above explained. The forward ends of the cams L, N and O are arranged to permit the friction rollers B to quickly raise the cross heads L, N and 0, while the rear ends of the said cams are formed to allow a gradual or slow downward movement of the cross heads, to prevent injury to the working parts of the devices. Each of the cross heads L, N and O is, in addition, spring supported, and for this purpose each cross head, when moving into a lowermost position, engages springs Q (see Fig. 7) supported on screw rods Q screwing in the sides of the main frame I.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the cross heads L, N and 0 move downward by their own weights and those of the weighted levers L, N and 0 it is evident that the cross heads are cushioned on striking the springs Q, and consequently the stripping knives C E and G, as well as the plates F, F, F 3 and F are not liable to injure the fibers of the material.

In order to disengage the draw-head B from the arms K of the conveyer chains K and to rotate the roller B for winding up the fibers and the apron H after the draw-head B has passed the scraping and drying device G. the following arrangement is made:

On the trunnions B of the draw-head B are secured pinions B adapted to mesh with gear wheels R se cured on the main driving shaft J, the upper portions of the gear wheels R extending a distance above the conveyer chains K as plainly indicated in Fig. 2. Now, when the machine is in motion and the conveyer chains K carry the draw-head B rearward, then the pinions'B finally come in contact and mesh with the gear wheels R, so that the latter carry the pinions B and consequently the draw-head B bodilyupward,

it being understood that the draw-head B is prevented from revolving by the arms K engaging the polygonal portions B of the trunnions B When the draw-head B about reaches the top of the gear wheels'R, then the upper ends of the arms K disengage the polygonal portions B, so that a further rearward carrying of the draw-head B ceases. In order to hold the draw-head B in this uppermost position, and to allow of rotating the draw-head B with a view to wind up the fibers and the apron H, cams S are provided. secured on a shaft S journaled in suitable bearings arranged on brackets I forming part of 'the main frame I. -The camsS are provided with cam surfaces S adapted to be engaged by the trunnions B at the time the draw-head B nears the gear wheels R (see Fig. 1); and when the trunnions B engage the said cam surfaces S and the draw-head B is moved rearwardly and upwardly by the action of the gear wheels R, then the cams S are turned and the trunnions B finally passinto bearings S at the inner ends of the camsurfaces S The trunnions B engage the bearings S at the time the draw-head B is in an uppermost position, so that the draw-head B is free to revolve, and is driven by the gear wheels R, to wind up the fibers and the apron H.

are secured on a transversely-extending shaft T jour-' naled in suitable hearings on the main frame I, and on one end of the said shaft T (See Fig. 1)is secured a gear wheel l"- in mesh with a pinion T secured on a shaft T mounted to turn in bearings on the frame I. On the shaft T is fastened a hand lever T under the control of the operator, also controlling a locking lever T held on the hand leverT and engaging a notched segment T secured on the frame I. Now, whcn the draw-head B moves into its uppermost position on the gear wheels R and the cams S support the trunnions B by their bearings S then the operator unlocks the hand lever- T 5 and swings the same upward, so as to swing the arms T in a like direction, to engage the shoulders S, thus locking the cams S against turning. When the fibers have been completely wound up on the roller B of the draw-head B, together with the apron H, then the operator imparts a further upward swinging motionto the hand lever T to cause the arms T to turn the cams S, so that the draw-head B is lifted upward by the bearings S to disengage the pinions B from the gear wheels R and to bring the trunnions B in alinement with the upper surface of a skid U secured on the main frame I. The trunnions B now readily roll out of the bearings S onto the skid U, to travel down the same, and to finally come to a stop at the lower, upwardly curved end U of the skid U. The draw-head B with the fibers and apron H wound thereon, can now be lifted off the machine for removal of the fibers and apron, to permit re-use of the draw-head B at the front end of the machine after another piece of material A is clamped in the draw-head. The apron H unwinds from a spool H journaled in suitable bearings on the brackets I .the cams S adjacent to the bearings S The arms T the free, end of the apron H being inserted between the fibers and the peripheral face of the roller B of the drawhead B at the time the latter nears the gear wheels R.

In order to properly support the upper run of the convcyer chain K, suitable guideways K are provided, supported on brackets I attached to the sides of the frame I. r

In order to support the material Aprevious to its passage between the first stripping device (1, a suitable table V is arranged on the front end of the machine.

The operation is as follows: A draw-head B with the end A of the material A clamped therein is placed in the bearings I at the front end of the machine, so that the material rostson the table V and extends from the under side of the draw-head B. Now, when the machine is running, a pair of arms K of the traveling chains K engage the polygonal portions B of the trunnionsB of the draw-head B and move the latter bodily forward without turning as the arms K engage the straight sides of the polygonal portions B. The rollers B of the draw-head B finally engage the cams L and lift the cross head L to allow the draw-head B to pass under the stripping knife C and the combing device D, thereby bringing the material A between the stripping knives C and C and below the combing device I).

The rollers B", on leaving the rear ends of the cams L knives C and C so as to remove the main portion of the pulp A and coating A of the material A by stripping the same off opposite sides of the fibers A lying side by side, with some pulp material between individual fibers, thuslcavinga web or band. This bandor web of fibers is pierced by the teeth of the several combs D, D D and D of the combing device D, to gradually split the band or web into narrow strips, the rear comb D being sufficiently fine to divide the entire band or web into very narrow strips. The draw-head B, in the meantime; causes a raising of the cross head N by the action of the rollers B on the cams N", so that the draw-head B passes underneath the stripping knife E and the plates F, F, F and F, and the cross head N finally returns to its lowermost position, so that the stripping knives E and E now act on the narrow strips to break up the strips and loosen and separate the individual fibers, at the same time removing any woody portions or pulp that adhere to the separate fibers, and loosened or broken up by the knivesE and E The fibers, after leaving the stripping knives E and E pass between the corresponding plates F, F, F and F and their screw rods F F, F and F so that the fibers are cleaned and polished and also straightened and rouuded. The draw-head B, in its further movement, causes a raising of the cross head 0, so that the fibers pass between the knife G and the elastioblock G and when the rollers B of the draw-head B have lcft the rear end of the cams 0 then the knife G" firmly presses the fibers against the elastic block Gr so that any sap, gum, moisture or the like on the fibers is scraped off or pressed out of the fibers. The'draw-head B is now elevated by the action of the pinions B meshing with the gear wheels B, so that the arms K disengage the polygonal portions B of the draw-head and pass on, while the draw-head B is held in this raised position by the cams S, locked in place by the arms T, as previously exsssams plained} When the draw-head B moves into an upperm ost position, the end of the apron H is passed between the fibers and the peripheral surface of the roller B of the drawhea'd B, so that when the draw-head is rotated by the gear wheels R, then the fibers are wound up on the roller B together with the apron H, and at the same time the remaining. portion of the material is drawn through the different devices C, D, E, F and G, to cause a complete separation, cleaning, polishing and drying of the fibers, as above explained.

From the foregoing it will be, seen that the leaf sheath or band-like material is subjected, in proper sequence, to-the action of the several devices C, D, E, F and G to first remove the major portion of the spongy pulp A and the coating A from the material and form a band of connected or adhering fibers, and this band is then gradually split into a plurality of narrow stripsof connected or adhering fibers, and the several strips are then acted on to separate the individual fibers, which are then cleaned, polished and dried and wound up in this condition and without danger of entanglement of the individual fibers. It is understood that in practice the draw-head roller B is of sufficient length to accommodate, side by side, a large number of the leaf sheaths or band-like materials A, all treated simultaneously in the manner described, to obtain a large amount of fibers on each passage of the draw-head B through the machine.

When the ends of the fibers have been wound up, together with the apron H, then the operator causes a further elevation of the draw-head B by the cams S, acted on by the armsT, so that the drawhead B, with the fibers and apron H thereon, rolls down the skid U, to be finally removed from the lower end thereof. It is understood that by using the apron H the fibers are prevented from entangling or curling up while being wound on the roller B and hence the fibers are kept perfectly straight and are not liable to discolor.

It is understood that when the end of the material has passed through the first stripping device C and the combing device D, then another draw-head B with a new piece of material attached thereto is placed in position on the bearings I, and the above-described operation is then repeated. Thus a second draw-head B may be moving forward in the machine at the time the first one winds up the ends of the fibers, and hence a large amount of material can be treated in a coinparatively short time.

In treating material having exceedingly fine fibers, it is desirable to dispense with the knives C and E of the stripping devices 0 and E, and to use, instead of the knives, rollers C (see Fig. 12), each operating in conjunction with a stripping knife 0 adjustabhv secured to the cross head I/ or N. Each roller 0 is journaled in bearings C held vertically adjustable, by the use of set screws C in guideways 1 arranged on the main frame I. g

In order to conveniently and quickly form the reduced end A of the material A, I prefer to employ a reducing device W, illustrated in Fig. 13, and which consists of a table W provided, at one end, with an abutting flange W and having standards W in which is mounted to swing a knife W The end of the material is pushed over the table W in the direction of the arrow b, to cause the knife W to swing upwardly to rest on the top surface of the material A. Now,

when the terminal of the material abuts against the flange W then the operator pulls on the material A in the inverse direction of the arrow b, so that the cutting edge of the spring knife W cuts into the pulp portion A of the material A, to form the reduced end A thereof, as will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 13 and 14.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent material, comprising means for removing the pulp and.

coating fromopposite sides of the fibers to leave a band of connected fibers, means for dividing the band of fibers into narrow strips of connected fibers, means fofseparating the individual fibers in each strip, means for cleaning and polishing the individual fibers, means for drying the fibers, and means for winding up the separate, cleaned and dried fibers together with an apron.

2. A machine for separating fibers from the pulp of plant or tree material, provided with means for separating the fibers and pulp, a draw-head for drawing the material through the said separating means and for winding up the fibers, and an apron winding with the fibers on the drawhead to separate the fiber layers and keep the same from curling up and entangling,

3. A machine for separating flbersfrom the pulp of ing the fibers of the strips, means for cleaning, polishing and straightening the fibers, and means for winding up the separated fibers.

5. A machine for separating fibers from the pulp of plant or tree material, provided with a stripping device having a pair of inclined stripping knives, the cutting edges of which are spaced apart and arranged opposite each other, a plurality of combs adjacent to each other and in the rear of the said pair of stripping knives, and means for drawing the material between the said cutting edges and through the said combs.

6. A machine for separating fibers from the pulp of plant and tree material, provided with a plate transverse to the direction of movement of the material, a notched bar opposite the said plate, and means for drawing the material between the plate and the notched bar to force the fibers into the notches 01' said bar.

7. A machine for separating fibers from the pulp of plant or tree material, provided with a series of plates transverse to the direction of movement of the material, a series of notched bars opposite the said plates, the said notched bars having notches of diiferent size, and means for drawing the material between the plates and bars.

8. A machine for separating fibers from the pulp of plant or tree material, provided with a series of plates transverse to the direction of movement of the material, a series of notched bars opposite the said plates, the said notched bars having notches of difierent size, a notched bar having a larger notch being in front of a notched bar having a notch of less size, and means for drawing the material between the knives and plates.

9. A machine for separating the fibers from the pulp of plant or tree material, provided with a fiber cleaning and polishing device through which the material is drawn, comprising a plate transverse to the direction of the movement of the material, a notched bar opposite the stripping edge of the plate, and means for drawing the material between the plate and notched bar.

10. A machine for separating the fibers from the pulp of plant or tree material, provided with a fiber cleaning and polishing device through which the material is drawn, comprising a series of spaced plates, a series of notched bars opposite the stripping edges of the said plates, and

means for drawing the material between the plates and notched bars.

' 11. A machine for, separating the fibers from the pulp of plant and tree material, provided with a fiber cleaning and polishing device through which -the.material is drawn, comprising a series oi. spaced plates, a series of notched bars opposite the stripping edges of the said plates, the notches of the notched bars being graduated, and means for drawing the material between the plates and notched bars. v

12. A machine for separating-the fibers from the pulp of plant'or tree material, provided with a fiber cleaning and polishing device through-which the material is drawn, comprising a series of spaced plates, a series of notched bars opposite the stripping. edges of the said plates, the notches of the notched bars being graduated, each notched bar having notches of less size than the bar immediately in front, and means for drawing the materiai'between the plates and notched bars. i

13. A machine for separating the fibers from the pulp of plant or tree material, provided with a fiber cleaning and polishing device through which the. material is drawn, comprising a. series of spaced plates, aserles of notched bars opposite the stripping edges of the said plates, means for drawing the material between theplates and notch'ed tive to the said plate.

14. A machine for separating the fibers from the pulp of plant or treematerial, comprising in combination spaced stripping devices, a combing device intermediate the said stripping devices, a cleaning and polishing device in the rear of the second stripping device, and means for drawing the material through the' said devices.

15. A machine for separating the fibers from the pulp of plant or tree material, comprising in combination spaced stripping devices, a combing device intermediate the said stripping devices, a cleaning and polishing device in the rear of the second stripping device, a fiber-drying device in the rear of the saidcleaning and polishing device, and means for drawing the material through the said devices.

16. A machine for separating the fibers from the pulp of plant or tree material, comprising in combination spaced stripping devices, a combing device intermediate the said stripping devices, a cleaning and polishing device in the rear of the second stripping device formed of plates and graduated notched bars, and means for drawing the material through the said devices.

17. A machine for separating the fibers from the pulp of plant or tree material, comprising in combination spaced stripping devices, a combing device intermediate the said stripping devices, a cleaning and polishing device in the rear of the second stripping device, a fiber-drying device in the rear of the said cleaning and polishing device consisting of a yielding block and a stripping knife operating in conjunction with the block, and means for'drawing the material through the said devices.

18. A machine for separating the fibers from the pulp of plant or tree material, comprising in combination spaced stripping devices, a combing device intermediate the said stripping devices and having a series of graduated combs one in front of the other, a cleaning and polishing device in the rear of the second stripping device, and means for drawing the material through the said devices.

19. A machine for separating the fibers from the pulp of plant or tree material, comprising separating devices for separating the fibers from the pulp, an endless carrier chain having arms mounted to travel lengthwise of the machine, a draw-head having means for clamping one end of the material in place, the said draw-head being adapted to be engaged by the said arms for moving the draw-head bodily along to draw the material through the said separating devices, the said draw-head being in'the form of a roller, and means for disengaging the said draw-head from the arms of the carrier chain after the draw-head has passed the said separating devices.

20. A machine for separating the fibers from the pulp of plant or tree material, comprising separating devices for separating the fibers from the pulp, an endless carrier chain having arms and mounted to travel lengthwise of the machine, a draw-head having means for clamping one end of the material in place. the said draw-head being adapted to be engaged by the said arms for moving the draw-head bodily along to draw the material through the saidseparating devices, the said draw-head being in the form ofh roller, means for disengaging the said draw-head from the arms of the carrier chain after the draw-head has passed the said separating devices, and means for rotating the draw-head after it is disengaged from the said carrier.

21. A machine for separating the tibers from the pulp of plant or tree material, comprising separating devices for separating the fibers from the pulp, an endless carrier chain having arms and mounted to travel lengthwise of the machine, and a draw-head in the form of a roller having trunnions adapted to be engaged by the said carrier arms, the roller having means for clamping one endof the material in place. H l

22. A machine for separating the iibers from the pulp of plant or tree material. comprising separating devices for separating the fibers from the pulp. an endless carrier.

the roller having means for clamping one end of the muterial in place, pinions on the said trunnions, and driven gear wheels in the rear of the said separating devices adapted to be engaged by the said pinions.

23. A machine for separating the fibers from the pulp of plant or tree material, comprising separating devices for separating the fibers from the pulp, an endless carrier chain having arms and mounted to travel lengthwise of the machine, a draw-head in the form of a roller having trunnions adapted to be engaged by the said carrier arms, the roller having mea'ns for clamping one end of the matcrialin place, pinions on the said trunnions, and driven gear wheels in the rear of the said separating devices adapted to be engaged by the said pinions, the said gear wheels extending above the top of the said carrier chain to lift the draw-head out of engagement with the carrier chain and to rotate the drawing roller.

24. A machine for separating the fibers from the pulp of plant or tree material. comprising separating devices for separating the fibers from the pulp, an endless carrier chain having arms and mounted to travel lengthwise of the machine, a draw-head in the form of a roller having trunnions adapted to be engaged by the said carrier arms, the roller having means for clamping one end of the material in place. pinions on the said trunnions, driven gear wheels in the rear of the said separating devices adapted to be engaged by the said pinions, the said gear wheels extending above the top of the said carrier chain to lift the draw-head out of engagement with the carrier chain and to rotate tbedrawing roller, and revoluble cams having bearings engaged by the said trunnions to allow rotation of the dran head by the gear wheels and pinion in mesh with each other.

25. A machine for separating the fibers from the pulp of plant or tree material, comprising separating devices for separating the fibers from the pulp, an endless carrier chain having arm's and mounted to travel lengthwise of the machine, a draw-head in the form of a roller having trunnions adapted to be engaged by the said carrier arms, the roller having means for clamping one end of the material in place, pinions on the said trunnions, driven gear wheels in the rear of the said separating devices adapted to be engaged by the said pinions, the said gear wheels extending above the top of the said carrier chain to lift the I draw-head out of engagement with the carrier chain and to rotate the drawing roller, revoluble cams having bearings engaged by the said trunnions to. allow rotation of the draw-head by the gear wheels and pinion in mesh with each other, and manually controlled means for temporarily holding the said bearing cams against rotation.

26. A machine for separating the fibers from the pulp of plant or tree material, comprising separating devices for separating the fibers from the pulp, an endless carrier chain having arms and mounted to travel lengthwise of the machineya draw-head in the form of a roller having trunnions adapted to be engaged by the said carrier arms,

some:

the roller having means for clamping one end at the mawheels in the rear of the said separating devices adapted to be engaged by the said pinions, the said gear wheels extending above the top of the said carrier chain to lift the draw-head out of engagement with the carrier chain and to rotate the drawing roller, revoluble cams having bearings engaged by the said trunnions to allow rotation of the draw-head by the gear wheels and pinion in mesh with each other. and a skid onto which the draw-head is delivered by the said cams.

27. A machine for separating the fibers from the pulp of plant or tree material, comprising separating devices for separating the fibers from the pulp, an endless carrier chain having arms and mounted to travei lengthwise of the machine, a draw-head in the form of a roller having trunnions adapted to be engaged by the said carrier arms, the roller having means for clamping one end of the ma; terial in place, pinions on the said trunnions, driven gear wheels in the rear of the said separating devicesadapted to be engaged by the said pinions, the said gear wheels extending above the top of the said carrier chain to lift the draw-head out of engagement with the carrier chain and to rotate the drawing-roller, revoluble cams having bearings engaged by the said trunnions toaliow rotation of the draw-head by the gear wheels and pinion inmesh with each other, manually controlled means for temporarily holding the said bearing cams against rotation and for turning the cams to lift the draw-head, and a skid onto which the said lifted draw-head is discharged by I the said cams.

28. A machine for separating the fibers from the pulp of plant or tree material, provided with a stripping and combing device, comprising a fixed stripping knife, a movable stripping knife opposite the fixed stripping knife, :1 comb, a cross head mounted to slide and carrying the said movable knife and the said comb, a cam on the cross head, a draw-head having means for engaging the said cam to lift the cross head for the passage of the drawhead underneath the knife and comb held on the cross head, and means for moving the draw-head bodily forward.

29. A machine for separating the fibers from the pulp of plant or tree material, provided with separating devices having fixed and movable members, a draw-head for drawing the material through the said separating devices, means for moving the draw-head along, means on the draw-head and the said movable members for raising the latter, to allow the passage of the draw-head between the fixed and movable members, and spring supports for the said movable members.

30. A machine for separating the fibers from the pulp .terinl in place, pinions on the said trunnions, driven gear of plant or tree material, provided with a stripping device having a fixed knife, a movable knife, and a spring sup .port for the movable knife.

31. ,A machine for separating the fibers from the pulp of plant or tree material, provided with a fiber separating device having a fixed member and a member mounted to slide toward and from the said fixed member, and a spring support for the said movable member.

32 In a machine for separating fibers from the pulp of plant or tree material, the combination with means for separating and cleaning the fibers from the pulp, of a roller carrier for the material, means for operating the carrier to move it through the machine, and means for disengaging the roller from its operating means.

33. in a machine for separating fibers from the pulp of plant or tree material, the combination with means for separating and cleaning the fibers from the pulp, of a roller carrier, means for operating the carrier to move it through the machine, means for disengaging the roller from its operating means, means for supporting the roller thus disengaged, and means for rotating said roller to wind moved through the machine whereby the roller carrier will be disengaged from its operating means and rotated, and means for engaging the journals of the roller carrier when elevated to support and permit it to be rotated.

35. In a machine for separating fibers from the pulp of a plant or treematerlal, the combination with devices for'separating and cleaning the flbers,- of a roller carrier for the material provided with gear wheels at' its ends, an endless carrier chain with which the carrier roller is held in detachable engagement to be moved thereby. a notched cam to receive the trunnions of the roller carrier, means for operating the said cam, and gear wheelsdor engaging the gear wheels of the roller carrier to disengage it from the endless chain and rotate it while held in the notch of the cam.

36. In a machine for separating fibers from the pulp of plant and tree material, a pair of oppositelyarranged knives for removing the pulp and outer coating from the material, a sliding support for one of the knives, combs carried by the support, a carrier. for the material, means for operating the carrier, and mesh! for operatingthe support from the carrier. a

37. A machine for separating fibers from the pulp of plant and tree material, comprising oppositely arranged knives for removing the pulp and outer coating train the material, a vertically .movabie support for one of the knives, combs ear'ried by the support, a second set of oppositely arranged knives, a vertically movable support ,for one of the .knives. plates carried by the support, 

